Therapy Session

Do you ever feel

possessive about your favorite things?

I do!

The left cushion of our love seat is mine.

(Nobody better sit there on movie night!)

Sometimes I'll discover something I love and take it over...

like one of my husband's old t-shirts that I've claimed for a

pajama/lounge-around-on-Sunday shirts.  It, too, is now mine.

And then there's Richard Armitage.

I've never felt territorial about my favorite actor before. 

In fact, since being hit with Thornton Syndrome a few years

back ("Oh the good ol' days, so long ago" *said in my best granny

voice, like I'm an old timer now*), I've felt that it was my

responsibility to spread the RA love.

I haven't had much success in bringing

others "into the fold," but I've tried, dang it!
I've tried. 

Today, I was browsing my personal facebook account,

when I noticed a family friend had posted something about

loving Richard Armitage as Thorin... and went off about him

and how amazing he is.  I immediately felt excited that I could

FINALLY discuss RA with someone I knew in "real life."

Then, I felt a twinge of... possessiveness!

Suddenly, I DID feel territorial!

Grrrr!!!

A stream of senseless thoughts rushed through my head:

Who does this girl think she is!?

I know SO much more about Richard than she does!

I bet she hasn't even watched "Vicar of Dibley" yet.

Then I realized how CRAZY my

thoughts were and snapped out of it quickly! 

Wow. How embarrassing!

Humph!



Something similar happened a few weeks ago,

when a bunch of male family members were discussing

"The Hobbit" and the different dwarf characters. One person

mentioned Thorin and I had to refrain myself from spouting

off all sorts of information about Thorin and the guy

who plays him in a know-it-all voice.

CRAZY, I tell ya!!!

These territorial feelings are so strange to me because:

1. I'm no longer obsessed with Richard Armitage. 

(I was for the first 6 months to a year of being an admirer. 

I can admit that now.)  He is still my favorite actor,

but he doesn't consume my thoughts.  My husband has

always been my #1 and only true love.  So what's the deal!?!

(I am not judging anyone who is currently obsessed with RA.  It's probably that

dang Thornton's fault anyway.  That show should come with a warning label!)

2. As long as I've been an RA fan, I've wanted to share

his talent with others... so why the sudden possessiveness???

Is it because he's becoming more and more popular

and doesn't feel like our best kept secret any more?

3. Richard is not a love seat cushion.

(Although Gizzy's leather sometimes reminds me of a couch I once knew.)

How DARE you!!!



I'm not sure why I had these odd reactions recently,

but that's why I'm seeing my therapists (YOU)

for professional RA help.

Has something similar ever happened to you???

Do share.

F3 Wrap-Up and Stick Figure Richard's Adventures in Middle Earth

I thought I had prescheduled this post to publish on March 18th at midnight...
but apparently I just saved  it instead!  Oopsies!!!  (Sorry for the delay, but it's
still the 18th in my part of the world!)

Today marks the final day of the 3rd Annual FanstRAvaganza.  It has been fun for me, both as a blogger and a reader!  I'd like to say THANK YOU to all of those who helped organize this event (you know who you are!), my awesome guest bloggers, those who advertised F3 on sites & forums, all the core & tagteam bloggers for providing so much RA fun, and of course YOU,
lovely blog reader, for visiting this and other blogs.  Your participation, whether an active
commenter or lurker, is very much appreciated. :)  Also, THANKS to our favorite
actor, Richard Armitage, for loads of entertainment and bringing
so many of us together who may not have "met" otherwise!

Onto the business at hand today...

Stick-Figure Richard has been emailing me

pictures & captions of his time in NZ.  He requested

that I make a video to share with you all... to go along

with Peter Jackson's vlogs. (He even chose the music he wanted!)

I was unable to put his video together just yet (sorry, SFR!) but will
complete it after my fam has finished moving in a

few weeks.  (So stay tuned, SFR fans!)

(If you don't know who SFR is,

click HERE to learn all about him.)

Stick-Figure Richard's
Adventures in Middle Earth

Spending time in New Zealand (aka: Middle Earth)

while filming "The Hobbit" has been grand!

I arrived on a large aircraft.

The first thing I did was

cut my hair and grow a beard...

...and then grew some bushy eyebrows!

(Thanks to the costume department.)

Speaking of hair & make-up,

I look quite amazing in my Thorin wardrobe, complete

with wig & prosthetic nose (since I don't have one),

if I do say so myself!

Trust me, this looks brilliant on film!

To prepare for the role, I brushed up on

my sword-slinging and pipe-smoking skills.



I've spent some time in a hobbit hole.

It's quite cozy... I think I may have one built in London.

 I struck up a friendship with Peter Jackson,
based on our mutual love of jumpers. I suggested he try
the striped kind next.  (Like Harry Kennedy's.)  Pete and I
are practically best mates now.

SFR and PJ

While here, I met some Kiwi's.

I heard Kiwi's are fine fishermen...

but these chaps weren't too impressive. They just sat

there mucking about while I did all the work.

I have really enjoyed the

breath-taking scenery here!

Filming "The Hobbit" has been a fantastic experience!

Our final fabulous FanstRAvaganza tagteamers:

Last, but definitely not least! Freeform: Agzy shares with us her favorite Armitage paper doll •Ana Cris examines Lucas North's tattoos through Maori tattoo culture • Jas Rangoon premieres her new John Bateman fanvid •In fandom, jazzbaby1 thinks RA fandom is just groovy! •C.S. Winchester asks "naughty or nice?" in a picspam • Mrs. E.B. Darcy thinks about Armitage's future after TH to wrap up the Hobbit chain •Jo Ann offers the last King Richard Armitage post, on Richard III and the Tudors • In fanfic, Maria Grazia reviews and compares works by the authors she's interviewed • Gratiana Lovelace wraps up the event with a guest post by Melissa the Mouse! • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of the event!

Again, thanks to all who
have participated this year!

Day 6 of F3

Top o' the mornin' to ya! 

Happy St. Patty's day, ya bonnie lasses!

Today on this blog:  guest blogger Mary Grace tells us about her encounter

with John Thornton and how he won her over! :)  ~Something we can all relate to, I'm sure! 

(See her post below.)  After you've read her lovely contribution, please return here and

start clickin' away at the links listed for more RA entertainment.



Today's fabulous FanstRAvaganza tagteamers:

It's almost over, oh noes! In fandom, Phylly3 celebrates her second blogiversary! • In the Hobbit chain, Antonia Romera compares trailers for An Unexpected Journey in three languages • CDoart's the King Richard Armitage blogger, writing on the relevance of the character in times of questionable justice • In fanfic, Jo Ann finishes her story • fedoralady traces the evolution of her "sloth fic" series • In freeform, Gratiana Lovelace rescreens her Armitage birthday vid • Fabo casts Armitage in Hollywood musical remakes • C.S. Winchester takes on Armitage in period costumes from N&S and Miss Marie Lloyd • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day.

What's the Matter with Me!? ~ by guest blogger Mary3

When I first came across John Thornton

in North and South, I really, realllly didn't like him. 

OMG! There he was, with a ferociously mean look on his face,

beating up a poor, pint-sized, helpless worker whom he had caught smoking in his cotton mill;

a much smaller man who was begging him for mercy, while the startled

minister's daughter, Margaret Hale, looked on in amazement... shocked, horrified and appalled.

Nope. John Thornton was definitely not going to be an ideal, Darcy-like, admirable hero,

neither to Margaret Hale, nor to me. (Why was I even watching this story about a grimy little mill

town up in the cold hinterlands of England, when I could be re-watching Jane Eyre or

Pride & Prejudice for the hundredth millionth time? What was the matter with me?)

But I stuck with the story and continued to watch North and South

because it was, after all, a period drama, and I love period dramas.

Then, just a few episodes later,

there I was madly in love with John Thornton!

Yes, that very same John Thornton who had beaten up that scrawny Lilliputian worker.

How'd Thornton do that? How'd he win me over and have me cheering for him, and not for Margaret Hale,

when Margaret Hale was obviously the much more admirable character? What was the matter with me?

Well, first of all, John Thornton looked like

Richard Armitage, (mainly because he was Richard Armitage).

Then one evening in the story he explained in a pained, yet stentorian

Armitagean voice just why he had almost beaten a poor scrubby devil senseless;

it was all to save his poor mill hand Eds and Ellas from being burnt to cinders by a weak and selfish lout.

How great was that?!  One simply could NOT argue with his ultra-noble motive for beating the little runt to
a pulp. (Are you going to tell me that one minuscule mill hand is more important than the possible incineration
of hundreds of innocent workers, and now even YOU are asking what is the matter with me!?)

Close to the end of the story, I wanted to shake that Margaret Hale for not appreciating

John Thornton, for humiliating him so, for making him feel unworthy of her and her love.

Could she not see that she had misjudged him badly; that this was in truth a kind,

caring, selfless, passionate and, OMG, so unbelievably tall and awesomely handsome man

whom any sane woman would die for?  What was the matter with her?

Finally, all ended up beautifully after a fortuitous,

felicitous, accidental encounter on a railway platform.

I re-watched that final scene over and over and over again. I couldn't get enough of it. Truth to tell, I still

can't get enough of it. Maybe I'll be re-watching it over and over ... and over ... for the rest of my life.

Have you seen that railway scene?

And if you have, can you blame me for being enthralled, for having developed such

a crush on John Thornton, aka Richard Armitage? Can you still ask what is the matter with me?  

If so, what is the matter with YOU?!

*        *        *        *        *

About Mary Grace, aka: Mary3 ~

Artist and writer Mary Grace Dembeck isn't sure which she loves to do most ... paint or write.

Born in New York City, she has lived in Westport, CT, for the past 45 years. She has exhibited paintings at The National Academy of Design, and her writing has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, Ranger Rick, and various other US journals and magazines.

Mary also collaborated on a number of songs with singer Maureen McGovern, and on a children's musical, The Bengal Tiger's Ball , based on one of Mary's poems, and it was performed in a month long run by Ms. McGovern at The Civic Theatres near Orlando, Florida. The musical was based mainly on Mary's lyrics.

Her short story "Act of Memory" is included in the Paul Auster/NPR anthology "I Thought My Father Was God" (in Britain, the book is entitled: "True Stories of American Life".)  It has been made into a short film by British actor/director Jack Ryder (formerly of Eastenders). The film has been entered in the Cannes Film Festival, as well as other festivals, and makes its World Premiere in America on March 24, 2012 at the Garden State Film Festival in New Jersey.  The film has now also been accepted at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California. Jack Ryder's goal is to have the film shown on the BBC this coming Christmas Eve.

Mary Grace is also the author of a collection of children's wacky poetry entitled

MOONSNACKS and Assorted Nuts.

Nat's Notes: Mary Grace is one of my newest RA buddies!
We met on C19 a few months ago when I chose her hilarious caption as the winner of one of the
Crinkle Zone caption contests.  (She writes the funniest captions!)  We started messaging back and
forth, and despite our age difference (she called me a "young whippersnapper") and living thousands of
miles apart, we felt like "kindred spirits." Mary Grace is so witty and charming...
I've enjoyed getting to know her.

When I asked her to be a guest blogger, I had no idea Mary Grace was a published author!
In fact, it wasn't until she sent me her "about me" information that I learned of her accomplishments.

I was so surprised, since she had never mentioned anything about being a writer in our messages, and seemed so nervous and humble about being a guest blogger.  (As if The Washington Post isn't much compared to The RA Fan Blog!  HA!)  I had to tease her about that. :)  I recently read her book of poems, "Moonsnacks and Assorted Nuts," to my children and they LOVED it.  She has written a few RA-inspired poems, which you can read in the C19 forum... maybe one day she'll publish another poetry book called 
"RA Fans: The Real Assorted Nuts."  I hope it includes limericks! :)

Day 5 of F3



Today on this blog: guest blogger Phoebe explains what it's like

to be Over the Hill and Out of the RA Closet, plus gives helpful tips on how to

"come out" to family and friends yourself.  (So dang funny!!!) After you've read her post

(and hopefully not peed your pants laughing) please pop back up here and click

on the links below for more Armitage swooning, laughs and fun!

Today's fabulous FanstRAvaganza tagteamers:

Friday F3! In the Hobbit chain, Mrs. E.B. Darcy projects what our hero may do in TH: There and Back Again • Ana Cris discusses a Maori ceremony Mr. Armitage witnessed in New Zealand's mountains • In King Richard Armitage, fitzg guestposts at judiang's on non-Richard roles for Armitage in a Richard III project • In fanfic, Jas Rangoon continues her modern N&S fic • Maria Grazia presents an interview with Cat Winchester and giveaway of her book, Northern Light • In freeform, fedoralady asks about our dream Armitage-narrated audiobooks • John Thornton wonders if anyone else could play him • Agzy discusses Heinz Kruger's sartorial choices -- and what's underneath them! • In fandom, jazzbaby1 maps Armitage in the Tommyverse • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day. 

Over the Hill and Out of the Closet ~ by guest blogger Phoebe

Over the hill: a. relatively advanced in age.

b. past one's prime Cultural Dictionary

Come out of the closet: To publicly announce a belief or preference

that one has kept hidden. “At the last moment, the woman came out of the closet and announced

her passion for Richard Armitage."  (See skeleton in the closet.) American Heritage®

New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition

OK! I admit it. I am Over the Hill and I have no business having

a crush on such a babe as Richard Armitage at my point and time in life,

but I just can't help that I am the oldest living RA Fangurl.

IT IS NOT MY FAULT! IT IS NOT MY FAULT!

Blame it on the Recession and the Internet!

Yes, like so many other things that are off balance today, it is the bankers to blame and the government! If the banking and housing crisis hadn't occurred I would have been too busy with work to play around with the computer. I would have been working long hours to come home and relax in front of another episode of Law and Order and off to bed. It is the fault of the Internet too - after all the Internet was the gateway to this obsession. I could Google RA and find 15 pages of photos & links to blogs, articles and sites. The more I saw and read the more I wanted - yes, needed! It's like a porn addiction (not that I know anything about porn) cause the internet makes it all to easy for me to go to RA Fantasyland 24/7 for a fix and release from my boring real life. That damn Internet lead me to Youtube and all of the videos done by fans for Margaret and John and to N&S and then to www.richardarmitageonline.com, which was so much fun to read. (A gold mine of possible topics of conversation) In no time flat I was amazed that I knew more about Richard than I knew about my lifelong friends. YIKES!

Why has a pillar of the community like myself been sucked into this charybdis of passion

(my favorite description from N&S)? Who knows!? Perhaps it's hormones, Internet pheromones, boredom, longing for romance or the fact that Richard Armitage is a work of art.

Me? Well I'm past caring why.

I have read numerous blog posts that try to successfully analyze why Richard makes so many

women feel connected to him. For the most part they all have points that ring true for me, but reality sets in. Yes, every time I walk past a mirror I get the shock of my life - OMG, it's Norma Desmond!

What am I doing!? People will think I am crazy - or pervie or more likely inappropriate

(which is a word that has been used to describe me in the past).

* Tips for Coming Out - An Ongoing Process *

Phase One ~ Passive:

Do you remember when you had a real passionate crush

& all you wanted to do was talk about the subject of your passion?

Well, that is just how it is for me when it comes to Richard Armitage.

Is it that way for you?

If you are like many of his admirers you are pretty isolated (not so for you lucky Brits) and long for someone to share your feelings with who understand. A great place is to join a forum where you will learn to use smileys that 'thud', improve your vocab by learning works like 'phoar', 'peaches', 'crinkles' and you can study in detail every inch of him that he will let us see. On some forums you can indulge in discussion of his dental work but it is hard to find a place to chat about his love life. Yes, his fans are protective. One place where you can find some amazing topics are the blogs which give you plenty of space to come out and comment. Lastly, a daily visit to RAnet.com and RAonline is a must for it is here that you can get the latest news on his comings and goings and an easy place to enjoy photo galleries and lastly the place where you can read RA's love letters to his fans. This is what I call the passive phase because you don't use your photo or your real name and address. You might find that this will satisfy your urge to talk about RA - to ooo and ahhh and crush away! It is a great way to share poetry, fan fiction and amazing graphics. For some of us (and I am one the Lurkers) it is the most comfy place to be. It is amazing how bright and interesting RA's Bloggers and forum members are. There is a blog for every woman's taste.

Phase Two ~ The Real Deal - Coming out to

Friends, Family and Co-workers:

Steps to help you with your Outting:

First step - put a favorite photo of Richard Armitage on your desktop

which will give you an opportunity to answer questions like: Who is that? Why do you have

him on your desktop? You're weird. Changing the photo frequently is recommended.

Second step - Eat lunch at your desk and wear earplugs

so that you can watch videos and have co-workers leer at you or load up

your smart phone. Think of good responses for 'you're so weird.'

Third step -Bring in your Richard Armitage photo mug which you can carry to

the coffee room to get a refill and enjoy another question and answer opportunity.

'Who's that?' "Richard Who', 'What show is he on?' and a guaranteed final

question: 'Why do you have that guy on your mug?"

Fourth step: buy several copies of North & South so that you can lend

one to co-workers. You can tell the guys that it's about trade unions as a selling point!

Also a good way to convince significant others to watch four hours of TV.

Caution: It is not recommend that you wear your Mrs. Richard Armitage t-shirt

that you found on EBay UK on casual Friday. Even I think that is a little too weird!

Fifth Step: Formulate a segway to shift conversation to Richard Armitage

in casual conversation. Just a suggestion, you can use discussion about The Hobbit

as a convenient way to talk about RA. If you think RA has a long nose you should see what

they have done to it for the films or Did you know he speaks Maori?  The subjects are endless.

If you have a significant other who is sporty you can talk about rugby and then share a screen cap

of RA in motion. Remember to breathe evenly. Or perhaps talk about skiing and how poor RA

can't ski because he is filming The Hobbit, which once again brings up another topic.

Tip for at home: buy a jar of Marmite and smear it on your SO's toast...

then while he winces you can share that it is a favorite of your favorite actor.

Or did you know that Leistershire is pronounced Lestershear? (US)

Or perhaps: RA has a chicken pox scar just like you do?

If you are finding that your family and friends give you a vacuous stare,

don't be discouraged. The more you introduce RA into conversations the more accustomed

they will become and knowledgeable too. Hopefully soon they will be able to fully

discuss these stimulating topics with you.

Sixth step: put Misty Mountain Cold on a loop at home or the office.

Seventh step: If you are having girl friends over why not pop in the CD player

one of Richard's Audio Books and if it is a guy - I recommend the Lords of the North

or perhaps have Strike Back running in the background. The guys love Strike Back

and RA in uniform is a sight to be savored.

In conclusion: the name of the game is frequency and level of exposure.

Just a caution: If you still 'blush' when you answer the questions

or hear his name I recommend practicing your breathing. You don't want to

go through the embarrassment of co-workers or friends laughing at you,

not that it happened to me or anything.

Family and friends have gotten used to this Foolish Passion by now but

occasionally I still hear a groan or ‘But Mom he's 40! He is almost my age!' or

'OMG, it's that British guy again' or 'Inappropriate' and a laugh or two at my expense.

I will say that when I think of the different techniques I used to integrate RA

into my real life, the best was the photo gallery of the men in my life.

*        *        *        *        *

About Lynne (RL) aka: Phoebe of C19 ~

Female - US East Coast Liberal - Married - Mother of Four

Real Estate Broker - Anglophile - Interests: too many.

Nat's Notes: I met Lynne (Phoebe or just P) on C19 a few years ago. 
As you can tell, she is a hoot!!! I laughed out loud throughout this entire post. 
Thanks, P!  (Since you think you're so old, will you be my adopted grandma?)

Day 4 of F3

Today on this blog: guest blogger Longhairedtoad graces us with her presence

and ponders, "If Richard had a Superpower..."  (See her wonderful post below.)

After your mind has been filled with lovely possibilities, scroll back up here

and check out the links below for more RA fun!

Today's fabulous FanstRAvaganza tagteamers:

Half over, already! In King Richard Armitage, Servetus admits to (gasp!) stray thoughts while lecturing • In fanfic, Margaret Hale guestposts at John Thornton's on why she loves him • Jo Ann continues her story • In freeform, Jas Rangoon jokes about potential reproductive partners for Mr. Armitage • Itsjsforme reveals another Guy of Gisborne PSA (still not safe for work!) • Gratiana Lovelace needs more help captioning "Whimsical Moments with Deadly Serious ChaRActers!" • In fandom, IngeD3 focuses on Ricky Deeming • Fabo confesses her Richard Armitage eyelash fetish! • In the Hobbit, it's calories galore as Antonia Romera discusses fingerlicking at the Hobbit table • The Queen takes on Hobbit cakes • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day.

Announcement:  I regret to inform you, dear blog readers,

that Phoebe, winner of "Name that Nose" a few days ago, has

decided to abdicate her status as victor of a SFR mug. Apparently,

she is feeling guilty for partnering up with time4tea, even though it

was not considered cheating.  Here is her statement:

"Overcome by disgrace and in light of the scandal and revelation that two heads were used to win this competition, I hereby relinquish this award for Pick The Nose. In the words of Vanessa Williams after she was forced to return her Miss America crown in 1984, "In time I hope this will become a distant memory."  ~Phoebe.

Oh, how will this blog ever get over such a massive scandal!?

(Luckily, I adore Phoebe... so no lawsuits will be filed.)

She happens to be my guest blogger tomorrow, but for now,

be sure to scroll down and read Longhairtoad's brilliant post!

If Richard had a Superpower... ~ by guest blogger Longhairedtoad

As I sit here and wonder in my artless, obsessed fan way, I can’t help but guess what superpower Richard Armitage would have. There are so many kinds to contemplate and consider, of course. We can go with the basic ones like invisibility, for example. But honestly, would you really want to have those sigh worthy looks disappear in a moment’s notice? God forbid we would lose the opportunity to enjoy viewing RA, whether it be a prolonged sighting or a quick glimpse. Invisibility is really something I prefer to have instead. Who wouldn’t want the power to hide in a moment’s notice and at the same time be able to walk right up to his ‘Lusciousness’ and view him without hindrance or interruption?

What about Telekinesis, the mental capability to move objects? Now that’s something to consider, RA with the ability to move objects and people as he sees fit. It has possibilities, both positive and negative. Physical feats would no longer be a problem for him. There are so many physical feats I can imagine him doing at the moment. Oh dear me, those wicked thoughts do come at the most inopportune times don’t they. But to get back to my point, I really don’t think having it would do RA justice. Telekinesis is another superpower I would rather have instead. The damage I could do. ‘Snickers Wickedly’

So what else is there? How about the ability to breath underwater? Interesting, but to what purpose would that serve? Off hand, the promise of constantly having RA wet! Envision it, RA rising from the foamy waves of the ocean. His chest, abdomen, arms, and thighs are covered in hundreds of thin, watery streams. His skin glistens. His hair is slicked back into a black skull cap. His muscles become much more defined from the watery film. His glorious jaw and neck drip with hundreds of droplets. It’s a sight as alluring as the most majestic waterfall. Oh where, oh where is that towel?

Now these superpowers are all well and good, but if you really think about it, they are quite ordinary. So many super heroes possess similar qualities. Wouldn’t you want RA to have a unique kind?

I believe he has one. His is a superpower is undefined at present or at least, it is not a recognized one. To a lesser degrees, some do possess something similar, but nowhere near as powerful. So what do I refer to? It’s simple really. Think Tall, Dark, and Handsome? What automatically what follows? ‘Broodiness’ Yes, yes, yes, it’s the power to render the most sensible fan from being a normal, breathing person to a heaping mass of wobbly jello. Now don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all felt that tingling sensation, which starts in our bellies and quickly escalates when RA flashes those baby-blues. He often follows with the angry stare. Sometimes it’s tinged with a hint of curiosity or has a dash of confusion. The intensity of his look is always just enough to make you gasp. Whether you’re young or old, married or single, alone or in a crowd of hundreds, the effect is the same. Your jaw slacks open. A dribble of saliva emerges or not. Every person reacts differently. Some develop cold and clammy hands. For others, deep blushing occurs and eyes sparkle. Coherent thought is usually unreliable, and chances of muttering nonsensical comments are high. In some rare cases, the urge to pucker your lips happens. I can’t say it’s happened with me, but some friends have declared it is fact. I know they were imagining things.


Now tell me, how many superheroes can boast of a power that can render a whole generation of women speechless at the same time? Even Superman in his prime could only boast of lifting a trailer truck in one hand and Lois Lane in another. The ‘Broodiness’ superpower is simply indescribable as it attacks without warning and leaves a lasting effect, which has been known to thrive for years. No known cure has yet been found, thank God!

Did someone say spandex?

There isn’t even a need to wear the superhero uniform. Now don’t get me wrong. I’ve got nothing against spandex. The image of RA in tight spandex has its merits. There’s no denying his chest and abdomen, not to mention those manly thighs would be amply emphasized. The tush factor is always a plus too. But no further accessories like a cape, is necessary. RA’s look is perfectly situated in black jeans, black top, and black boots. Simplicity at it’s best.

To prove my point, imagine this. RA stands before you. His back faces you at first. The singularly perfect backside is still. Without warning, there is a slight movement of muscles undulating beneath the denim. Suddenly his neck stiffens. He senses someone behind him and prepares to unleash the ‘Broodiness’ superpower. His hands remain dangling at his sides and his legs are apart. Ever so slowly, his head turns. We catch just a glimpse of his profile and instantly our breathing grows unsteady.

Behold the power of the Super Brood!

The finely chiseled jaw line, those cheekbones looked like they’ve been carved from stone. Thick, black lashes hide his eyes but slowly the eyelids are raised and we see blue. His gaze is down and his expression is neutral for the moment. We know a change coming. His head turns some more and the aquiline nose is now fully exposed. The tip is so alluring I feel a pucker coming on. Just one kiss please! His eyes dart upward and before you know it they are fixed you with a hard stare. You’re tingling. Yes, you are. If you’re standing within a group, someone will undoubtedly sigh. Another person will giggle. All of you will feel lightheaded at first as the tingling sensation grows. It gains strength that the person on your right puckers too. You, on the other hand, are beyond that. His stare turns more intense. It’s as though RA sees inside of you. Now you’re a goner.

For just a moment, he twists his head again, from side to side. It’s a small thing, almost not worth noticing but you cannot dismiss it. He takes a deep breath while you struggle to find yours. For a second it seems he will say something but he doesn’t. There is a look of confusion on his face and the trace of anger grows more prominent. It doesn’t matter at this point if he’s angry with you or the person behind you. You’ve been hit. The ‘Broodiness’ superpower renders you speechless. You do not speak, you do not move. You can do nothing until he turns away. Even then you do not recover but wait, like the helpless victim you are, to be hit again.

Now tell me, is this not a superpower to equal Superman’s superhuman strength or no?

I think it is or maybe this really isn’t a superpower and I’m just thinking too much. Perhaps we’ll never really know. All I do know is I’m still puckering. Yes, I believe I am and I’m certain I’m not the only one.

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About the Guest Blogger~Liza aka Longhairedtoad/LHT:

I currently reside in the Bay Area of Northern California.

My hobbies vary from baking and sewing, to traveling, reading,

and writing some fanfic. (Featured on the Dreamer Fiction forum.)

I've been an RA fan ever since I saw him in North and South.

One look and I was a goner.




Nat's Notes:  LHT and I are old NJTS forum buddies. (Not Just Toby Stephens Fans.) 
That was the first forum I ever joined and I met a lot of fun, smart women there who shared my love of RA! 
Unfortunately the NJTS forum was closed within the year that I joined. :(  Anyway, LHT was among those
ladies who made me think and laugh. I've read a few of  her fanfics, which made me blush! :) 
I love how she can paint a picture with her words.  Thanks, Liza!

Richard Armitage Interactive Crossword Puzzle

Game time!!!
This is an interactive crossword puzzle that you can play right here on this screen!

Just click on one of the empty boxes below or one of the clues to your right, and begin typing.

(For clues, click "letter" or "word" at the bottom.)  Enjoy!



Please visit today's fabulous FanstRAvaganza tagteamers:
F3 brightens up "hump day"! In fanfic, Maria Grazia presents an interview with Trudy Brasure and giveaway of her book, A Heart for Milton • C.S. Winchester helps new authors get their feet wet writing fanfic • In freeform, ChrisB continues the alphabet with "B is for Beard(?)? • jazzbaby1 puts John Porter in the hands of Frank Spotnitz • Agzy outs Armitage characters as dog lovers • In fandom, fedoralady recommends the right tunes for your Armitage fanvid • Rose Gisborne describes her Armitage day •In the Hobbit, IngeD3 reveals the deeper meaning of the dwarfs' hoods • Ana Cris reflects on Armitage and Maori ceremony • In King Richard Armitage, Fabo offers some choices to play Anne Neville • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day.

Important, show-stopping, earth-shattering announcement:
the "Name that Nose" winner(s)  and  uncropped pics were
posted on this blog's Day 1 update HERE.

Day 2 of F3

Welcome to the 2nd day of FanstRAvaganza #3. 

(aka: F3, because that's one long word!)

Today on this blog: SiouxsieSioux is featured as a guest blogger. (Post below.)

After you have enjoyed reading her Diary of a Crinkleholic (so funny!) please return

to this post and keep clicking on the links below for more Armitage goodness!

Today's fabulous FanstRAvaganza tagteamers:

Yup, there's more! In freeform: Melanie on why Harry Kennedy is the perfect man • Rose Gisborne on which colors look best on Richard Armitage • Itsjsforme unveils Guy of Gisborne's latest public service announcements (not safe for work!) • In fandom, Fabo on Richard Armitage's statements about fans • Gratiana Lovelace requests help captioning in "I'm Too Sexy for My T-Shirt!" • The Hobbit chain goes creative with The Queen on Hobbit quilts • Mrs. E.B. Darcy on Hobbit action figures! • For King Richard Armitage, IngeD3 reviews the Michael Hicks biography of the fifteenth-century king • In fanfic, John Thornton on why he loves Margaret Hale • Jo Ann introduces us to a new Armitage character she knows we'll love • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day.